C21 The Assassin Attacked!

Chen Dutian wasn't particularly interested in the upcoming event. He noticed Yan Chen sitting on the steps, looking slightly displeased. After the meal was served, Chen Dutian shared a few drinks with Pang Yuan before getting up to leave Cloudwatch Palace.

Having not been back to the House of Protector for several days, Chen Dutian was eager to visit his mother. However, he had barely left Cloudwatch Palace when he heard footsteps behind him...

Surprised, he turned to see Yan Beichen approaching quickly with two attendants in palace attire.

"Mr. Chen, are you heading back?" Yan Beichen asked.

"Yes, thank you for your hospitality these past few days. If you ever need my assistance, feel free to send someone to the House of Protector," Chen Dutian replied, nodding. He had a fairly good impression of Yan Beichen. Although he was quite strategic, he was far better than someone as ruthless as Yan Nantian.

"I heard the Lord Protector is about to return with his troops. Don't forget our agreement," Yan Beichen said, lowering his voice and speaking earnestly as he reached Chen Dutian's side.

Previously, Yan Beichen didn't have the strength to compete for the crown, but with the support of the Chen family, he now had hope. Many of Chen Dou's former subordinates held significant power in the military, and Yan Beichen was betting everything on Chen Dutian.

"Rest assured, Your Highness. The day my father returns victorious will be the day you ascend the throne!" Chen Dutian, wary of unforeseen complications, knew it was crucial to swiftly eliminate the Crown Prince's allies.

The two exchanged knowing smiles. Chen Dutian bowed and took his leave, while Yan Beichen stood at the gates of Cloudwatch Palace, lost in thought for a long time.

"Your Highness, can we trust Chen Dutian?" a palace eunuch inquired quietly as he approached.

"No, we can't," Yan Beichen replied, a shadow of malice flickering in his eyes. Yet, he smiled slightly and took a deep breath. "My father has been suspicious of the Chen family for quite some time. I've heard the head of Jademanes has been summoned back to the capital, leaving the Chen family with no other options."

Yan Beichen slowly turned and whispered to another eunuch, "Have there been any movements from the Crown Prince or Wang Xuanyang lately?"

"Your Highness, the Crown Prince is practicing the 'Dragon Martial Technique' and remains at the Third Heaven of the Astral Wandering stage. However, Wang Xuanyang and the Minister of War have secretly mobilized the Ironclad Legion. General Tang Xuan set out several days ago."

"Alright, inform Captain Lin outside the capital that he can proceed," Yan Beichen nodded slightly, his expression calm, as if everything was under his control.

The eunuch bowed and vanished into the night. If Chen Dutian had witnessed this, he would have been secretly alarmed. The eunuch serving him in Cloudwatch Palace these past few days was, in fact, a formidable Astral Wandering master!

Holding the jade pendant given by Yan Chen, Chen Dutian stepped out of the Imperial Capital, squinting slightly as he took a deep breath. He was in high spirits, humming a tune as he briskly walked toward the House of Protector.

The House of Protector was located on the west side of the city, about a quarter-hour's walk from the Imperial Capital. Just as he was nearing home, Chen Dutian suddenly stopped in his tracks, feeling a shiver run through him. He sensed several Spirit Convergence warriors nearby, and footsteps echoed behind him...

"Just out of the Imperial Capital, and Yan Chen is already eager to get rid of me?" Chen Dutian chuckled coldly, channeling the energy within his body through his meridians.

It was the Harvest Festival, and the streets were deserted. The people approaching from behind were all Ninth Heaven warriors. Chen Dutian slowly turned around, and under the moonlight, he saw three men in tight-fitting clothes with faces masked, their eyes filled with murderous intent.

"Who sent you?" Chen Dutian asked calmly.

Seven or eight more assassins emerged from the shadows on either side of the road, but Chen Dutian showed no fear. Although he was only at the Sixth Heaven in strength, he could easily handle these assassins with just the Starfall Sword technique.

"You don't need to know that much!" one of the Ninth Heaven warriors stepped forward, replying coldly as he slowly drew the longsword from his waist.

"Hmph, you think you can take me down with just a few of you? You're seriously underestimating me!" Chen Dutian scoffed, as a powerful aura spread from him, his hands glowing with a bright white light.

"Chen Dutian, you're just a Sixth Heaven warrior, yet you're so arrogant. Today, I want to see just how capable the Lord Protector's Heir really is!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the Ninth Heaven warrior didn't rush to attack. Instead, several men in black emerged from both sides of the road, brandishing their longswords as they charged at Chen Dutian.

These men were only at the Fifth Heaven level. Chen Dutian smirked coldly, not taking them seriously at all. As two sword lights approached him, the white glow from his hands surged out, slamming into the chests of the two men in black.

In an instant, Chen Dutian stood his ground without moving an inch, while the two Fifth Heaven assassins were sent flying by the force of his aura. After hitting the ground, their bodies twitched a few times before falling still.

The Ninth Heaven warrior in black gasped at the sight, his brow furrowing tightly. Chen Dutian was only at the Sixth Heaven, yet he could effortlessly defeat two Fifth Heaven warriors. It was truly astonishing.

The other assassins didn’t hesitate for a moment. As more sword lights came rushing toward him, Chen Dutian lightly tapped the ground with his toes and leaped over six feet into the air.

After executing the Thunderfist, a barrage of fist shadows, formed from spiritual energy, rained down swiftly, causing the surrounding air to tremble faintly.

“Crack!”

Over a dozen sword lights vanished instantly into thin air. Chen Dutian landed steadily, his movements swift and ghost-like. The three men in black couldn’t even see his actions clearly before they each let out a scream and were hurled over thirty feet away, crashing hard onto the ground.

“These guys are no match for me. Why don’t the three of you come at me together?” Chen Dutian casually straightened his clothes, noticing the shocked expressions in the eyes of the other men nearby. He chuckled and provocatively beckoned to the three strongest assassins not far away.

These three were at the Ninth Heaven of Spirit Convergence. Seeing that their subordinates were no match for Chen Dutian, they were secretly taken aback. In a flash, they appeared in front of him.

“They say the Lord Protector's Heir hides his strength too well. Even Jiang Daochen and Ling Zechuan lost to you in the martial competition today. I must admit, I underestimated you!”